More Losses

C.I. Fruit-Growers Up In Arms at Govt "Control"

From Our Own Correspondent T , T ttt , RAROTONGA, July 3.

HE season of Rarotonga orange ship ments is now approaching its close— probably only one small shipment will be sent to N.Z. this month. The posi tion of the industry during 1940 gradu ated from a poor beginning to an in finitely worse end.

The slightly mollified attitude of the growers was changed to bitter criticism by events during May-June. In the first, place, the Fruit Control Department made an error in their estimations—the result being that over 1,500 full cases of oranges had to be left behind, as well as leaving

a large number unpacked. On May 29,the Department, without consulting the Island Council or Fruit Advisory Com mittee, announced that, in order to meet the losses thus occasioned, payment would be 3/4 per case instead of the usual 3/9.

As this price included a rebate on the manure levy of 3d. per case, the actual loss amounted to about Bd. per case.

The districts of Avarua and Takitumu, who were paid for the fruit on the two days following this announcement, ac cepted payment “under protest” but the independent people of Arorangi, who were not to be paid until June 4, decided after a meeting that they would not take their money until the matter had been investi gated. To this decision they adhered, but apparently economic conditions over ruled their independence and the Gov ernment made a second and successful attempt to pay them on June 6.

Worse was yet to follow. First reports from N.Z. on the May shipment indicated that the Rarotonga fruit had landed with the high loss of 23 per cent. After a few days, the loss rose to th Q staggering figure of nearly 50 per cent. Naturally, the New Zealand “Control” could not carry on shipments on this basis and on June 11 a radio message from Wellington stated that only 4,500 cases would be accepted from Rarotonga for the June shipment These have been picked in a spirit of patient hopelessness by those growers who could not do without the cash in

volved, but many have not considered it worth their while.

Bitter comparison is being made be tween Rarotonga, which has the services of an imported citrus expert and his staff, and the neighbouring island of Mangaia which is iun lock, stock and barrel by one white Resident Agent. Mangaia, in spite of dissatisfaction with the prevail ing price and difficult shipment due to the bad reef, has had a uniformly suc cessful year with low rates of loss. For the June shipment they received space for a maximum of 8,000 cases. When it is calculated that Mangaia shipped six cases against Rarotonga’s one per head

of population the difference can be well judged. Knowledgeable men say that the keeping qualities of the Rarotonga orange are not so high as those of Outer Islands fruit, but one cannot believe that this accounts for the big difference in loss.

Protests and petitions galore from both Europeans and natives are now under way and it is understood that Mr. W.

Mcßirney, a prominent local planter, may bring a suit against the “Fruit Control” as a test case.

Mr. L. Bunting, a New Zealand busi ness man who is well known in the Cook Group—he was for many years lessee of Manuae Island, a small atoll midway be tween Atiu and Aitutaki —recently paid a visit to Rarotonga on the “Matua”.

Mr. L. Trenn, Resident Agent at Mani hiki, Cook Islands, arrived in Auckland in July on four months’ furlough, part of which is being spent touring the North Island of New Zealand.